Ask Greg & Liz: Compositions and Arrangements

 

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Dear Greg & Liz,

I love your Star Wars Fantasy!! When are you going to put them for sale? Please make more of your compositions available for sale online. Cheers,

- Andrew Lee

 

Dear Andrew,

 

Thanks!! We have a bit to work out with Lucas Films before we can make the piece for sale. We're sorry, but we've been tied up with loads of other activities and projects, and haven't had time to think about it. It's on our list of things to do, and we definitely hope to get around to it in the next couple of years. Thanks for your interest and enthusiasm!

 

- Greg & Liz

Dear Greg & Liz,

hi my name lisa.i´m from germany and i study at castle belvedere in weimer. i have a question. i heard the blue danuble fantasy and it was fantstic. so i want play it too. but where can i find the notes?

- lisa

 

Dear lisa,

 

Unfortunately, the score to our New Account of the Blue Danube Waltzes is unavailable for sale. Just like our Libertango arrangement, we have decided to keep it exclusive for a while (we know, how nasty of us!) and the pieces are notated in illegible handwritten manuscripts. We'll let you know when either of them are plugged into a computer and become available for sale. Thanks for your interest, however!

 

If you're looking for a wild and virtuoso-style four-hand/one-piano arrangement, we recommend our arrangement of Khatchaturian's Saber Dance. It takes a good deal of time to coordinate between the two pianists, but it's also a lot of fun. There are also a number of other compositions and arrangements for two pianos available for sale on the compositions page.

 

- Greg & Liz

Dear Greg & Liz,

We were in the audience yesterday in Mahtomedi and were blown away by your artistry, virtuousity and passion. Rite of Spring was breathtaking. It was all breathtaking! Thank you so much for your sharing this wonderful music with us. Now, a question. How do you achieve the captivating sounds on Libertango? Do you pluck the strings, or mute them with your hands? Where did you get this idea? The result is utterly magical, almost intoxicating. Have you considered taking that compositional element and improvising further with it? Please consider it! Thanks again for a wonderful performance.

- Karlyn Eckman

 

Dear Karlyn,

 

Thanks! We had a fantastic time performing in Mahtomedi and we're thrilled that you enjoyed the concert!

 

We mute strings while playing our arrangement of Libertango. In creating the transcription, we wanted to find a way to bring the melody to the fore, like a violin singing out over a tango band. Unfortunately, the dense musical textures created by four hands at one piano make such an effect difficult, and the piano is not capable of creating a sultry and singing tone like that of a violin. We figured if we made the rest of the piano sound bad, perhaps the melody would sound better. Hence, the muting of specific strings.

 

...not to mention, we like to explore places that are typically unseen... ;-)

 

- Greg & Liz

Dear Greg & Liz,

From what I see, none of the four hands, one piano music is available. Is that correct. Thanks.

- Mrs. Usher

 

Dear Mrs. Usher,

 

No, that is not correct. You can purchase our arrangement of Sabre Dance for four hands, one piano. In addition to this score, we are working on a set of "encores" (for the same instrumentation) that will be available for sale within the next year. Next week, we will put the finishing touches on a couple of short compositions based on Irish tunes and we'll add them to the list.

 

- Greg & Liz

 

Dear Greg & Liz,

Are all the duets you two have played your own compositions? You guys are amazing by the way.

- Serena Liu

 

Dear Serena,

 

No, not at all. We love playing the staples of the piano repertoire, especially the piano duo music of Mozart, Brahms, and Rachmaninoff. You can visit our repertoire page to get an idea of what sorts of repertoire regularly appears on our concert programs.

 

Thanks!

 

- Greg & Liz

Dear Greg & Liz,

I was browsing through the repetoire and I caught eye of an arrangement of Lennon's "Imagine" for piano four hands. Is there anywhere I can hear this? Perhaps sheet music? :)

- Gabe

 

Dear Gabe,

 

You've got a good eye. Occasionally the arrangement makes its way into our live performances (usually as a surprise)... which is probably the only place where you'll have the opportunity to hear it.

 

- Greg & Liz

Dear Greg & Liz,

I think that you are wonderfullll! I first saw u yesterday on Youtube and I'm AMAZED!!! I also play the piano, and I am playing with my twin sister also...we won some european competitons..but..doesn't matter, my question is: PLEASE, how can I reach the scores (sheet music, music notes) for your version of libertango??! looot of regards from Serbia

- Melita

 

Dear Melita,

 

Thanks for your interest (and everybody else's for that matter)! Unfortunately the music is not available to the public, due to a number of issues and complications. If we ever make the score available, we'll inform our mailing list. In the meantime, we suggest you view our "compositions" page to learn about our other arrangements and original compositions that are for sale!

 

- Greg & Liz

Dear Greg & Liz,

Hi, I would like to know what SMP level your star wars duet would be on? I am a college student majoring in piano and fell in love w/ it! :P Thank you for your time!

- Brittany

 

Dear Brittany,

 

We're glad you like our Star Wars Fantasy! We love playing the piece, but it is extremely challenging. The first and last movements are some of the most technically difficult music we have ever played. Unfortunately, we don't know what SMP level it would be on.

 

- Greg & Liz

Dear Greg & Liz,

I read your answer about why the Libertango score is not for sale yet, but I am wondering how soon you think it might be - would it be a matter of months, or years possibly? Thanks!

- Annee

 

Dear Annee,

 

Thanks for your interest (and everybody else's for that matter)! We can't promise anything regarding the release of the Libertango score (lots of complications, lots of complications...). At the very earliest: a year from now; at the latest: five to ten years from now. We'll definitely send a message to the mailing list when the day finally arrives!

 

However, we have some other plans up our sleeves that may interest you. This summer we hope to create a new series of arrangements for one-piano/four-hands -- arrangements that don't come plagued with copyright issues, arrangements that are equally cool and virtuosic, and arrangements that are... just... better (we have a lot more experience at this point). We'll be sure to let the mailing list know when these virtuoso four-hand pieces are ready.

 

Thanks for your patience Annee!

 

- Greg & Liz

 

 

Dear Greg & Liz,

I can't begin to tell you how thrilled I am every time I hear you play/watch your videos. I'm mesmerized every time! Right now I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of the CD "Reimagine" from the States since I wasn't able to purchase it here in the UK. Have you ever considered an arrangement of Liszt's "La Campanella" or maybe you could go wild with some some Czerny pieces such as "The Art of Finger Dexterity"? Thanks so much for pleasure you give to your audience and the refreshing approach you have. It's a delight! I hope one day soon we might see you perform here in the UK. In the meantime may I wish you both every success together. Yours sincerely,

- Trevor Hudson

 

Dear Trevor,

 

Good ideas! We have a giant list of future plans, including the composition of several new arrangements and original compositions. We'll be sure to add your ideas to the list!

 

Thanks for your kind words as well. We work hard and we love what we do, and it's always nice to hear that others appreciate it.

 

- Greg & Liz

 

Dear Greg & Liz,

IS there ANY way I can purchase some of your transcriptions?

- Michael

 

Dear Michael,

 

Please visit our Compositions Page, where you can find information about purchasing our transcriptions and original compositions.

 

You can purchase scores to several of our works featured on our upcoming album, "Reimagine," including "The Cat's Fugue," "The Cuckoo in Sussex," "Danse macabre: remix," "The Swan," and "Erbarme Dich." You can listen to samples by launching the music player.

 

The .pdf files to each score are $10 (The Birds is $15), payable through PayPal. Email your request to andersonroe@yahoo.com and we will send you an invoice. To learn why some of the compositions or arrangements are not available for sale, please visit the Composition Archives in this section of the website.

 

Thanks for your question!

- Greg & Liz

 

 

Dear Greg & Liz,

When I try to compose a song and I need a good melody, I always finding myself erasing pages of work. That's because I have an issue with copying original melodies of other songs without realizing it... any suggestions?

- Austin

 

Dear Austin,

 

We're not exactly sure what to say because we have the opposite problem. We create a lot of arrangements and we find it hard to stick to the melody. We keep finding ourselves straying!

 

Composing can be very challenging, and sometimes days will go by where very little progress is made. However, there are some days (those wonderful, wonderful hours) when pages of music fly off the pen, when inspiration is at its peak, and when everything feels easy and natural. Those hours typically produce the best music, and there is no way to know when it will happen.

 

Greg typically finds his mind the clearest when he's walking or when he's in the shower. (!)

 

Good luck and keep chugging away!

 

- Greg & Liz

 

Dear Greg & Liz,

When you arrange songs for yourselves, do you work off the original score?

- Joey

 

Dear Joey,

 

There's a simple answer to this question: we never work from the original score. We don't like to confine ourselves, and a blank sheet of music paper helps to provide that sense of freedom.

 

The piano is a very idiomatic instrument; it has strengths and weaknesses like any other, and it is important to take advantage of those strengths when composing. Often the best and most effective way is not the literal way.

 

- Greg & Liz

Dear Greg & Liz,

I love your guy's playing. You inspired me to write a duet! So how long did it take you to write Libertango? Did you guys just sit down one day and say, "Let's rewrite a song," or what? I JUST bought the Browns' new CD [with Greg's compositions and arrangements] by the way. Love your vids!

Austin

 

Dear Austin,

 

Thanks for all your kind words! It's always nice to hear that other people love watching and listening to us as much as we love playing together.

 

"What prompted us to start 're-writing' music?" The answer isn't so simple, but it stems from a desire to take a piece and make it our own. Sometimes we re-imagine music to help keep that which we love relevant to audiences today. Sometimes we do it because there isn't much music our there that suits our distinct style. Sometimes we do it to showcase our personal strengths. Sometimes to give audiences a sense of our personal relationship with the music. Sometimes it's the simple desire to perform music not originally intended for piano that leads us to arrange music. Read our notes on transcriptions for even more thoughts on this matter.

 

"How long does it take to compose our music?" The Libertango arrangement was created pretty hastily. We started writing on a Sunday, started practicing the next Thursday, and we performed it two days later, on Saturday. Our Star Wars Fantasy is essentially an original composition based on a few familiar themes, and as such, it took much, much longer to compose. We started composing in February of 2006, didn't sleep for two months, and finished composing the piece on the day of the performance in early April that same year. Greg will tell you that composing (and arranging) for five pianos takes even longer. His Fantasia on "Dives and Lazarus" took six solid months to compose!

 

Be sure to watch for our CD release (featuring many of our original compositions and arrangements!) later this November!

 

- Greg & Liz

 

Dear Greg & Liz,

Will the sheet music for the Star Wars Fantasy ever be available?

 

Dear Mr./Ms. Annonymous,

 

We hope so! As we said in an earlier answer (but it keeps coming up, so we post it again):

 

Several of our scores face an onslaught of copyright issues. The day we get around to settling these legal issues, we will post the news on our website and email our mailing list. We hope that day won't be too far into the future, but we honestly cannot predict when this will be! We keep finding ourselves in high demand, and as a result, we haven't had time to devote our attention to such matters.

However, in the meantime, there are a number of other scores available for purchase. Visit the compositions page for more information. For those of you looking for wild four-hand/one-piano music, consider the Sabre Dance arrangement. Additionally, you will be able to hear several of our compositions and arrangements on the upcoming Anderson & Roe Piano Duo CD, to be released later this fall, including "Erbarme Dich," "The Cat's Fugue," "The Cuckoo in Sussex," and "The Swan," all available for sale.

 

- Greg & Liz

 

Dear Greg & Liz,

How can I get the score to your piano duo arrangement of Piazzolla's Libertango?
- multiple questioners

 

Dear Libertango aficionados,

 

Thank you for your interest in our music! Unfortunately the Libertango arrangement is not for sale. Not only have we decided to make a couple of our arrangements exclusive for a while (we know, how nasty of us!), but several of our scores are still completely illegible and face an onslaught of copyright issues. The day we get around to settling these copyright issues and notate the messy handwritten manuscripts into the computer, we will post the news on our website and email our mailing list. We hope that day won't be too far into the future, but we honestly cannot predict when this will be!

 

However, in the meantime, there are a number of other scores available for purchase. Visit the compositions page for more information. For those of you looking for wild four-hand/one-piano music, consider the Sabre Dance arrangement. Additionally, you will be able to hear several of our compositions on the upcoming Anderson & Roe Piano Duo CD, to be released later this fall, including "Erbarme Dich," "The Cat's Fugue," "The Cuckoo in Sussex," and "The Swan," all available for sale.

 

- Greg & Liz

 

Dear Greg & Liz,

Is it possible to get your trancription of Piazzolla Libertango. It is amazing, I cant stop watching your video!

Anna

 

Dear Anna,

 

The quick answer: no, not yet. Please see our response to this question later down on this page for more information!

 

Thanks for your interest!

- Greg & Liz

 

Dear Greg & Liz,

I am a young pianist and absolutely love your work. I was wondering if your transcriptions for piano were available anywhere on paper. Thanks.

Tamara

 

Dear Tamara,

 

Thank you for your interest! You are certainly not the first person to inquire about the availability of our music, and we say the same thing to everyone:

 

Unfortunately, we've decided to keep a couple of our scores "exclusive" for a while (how very nasty of us!), and we're limited by copyright restrictions on the Star Wars Fantasy.

 

That said, we sell the scores to two of our transcriptions, namely our four-hand/one-piano arrangement of Khachaturian's Sabre Dance and our two-piano arrangement of Bach's "Erbarme Dich" from the Saint Matthew Passion. You can watch a small excerpt from a live performance of the Sabre Dance on Greg's website here. It's typical Anderson & Roe flair and fury. You can listen to "Erbarme Dich" performed by the Anderson & Roe Piano Duo on Greg's CD, "On Wings of Song," available for purchase here.

 

Both of these score are $10. To purchase, send us an email (andersonroe@yahoo.com) and we'll send you a PayPal invoice. Also, check back later or join the mailing list. We will be sure to update the website as more compositions and arrangements become available.

 

- Greg & Liz